Juncker on the brink: MEPs grill commission over ‘cronyism’ Selmayr promotion
JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker is facing the wrath of opposition MEPs after he escaped a grilling over the appointment of Brexit-hating Martin Selmayr to secretary general, instead sending commissioner Gunther Oettinger to answer his questions.
European Commissioner Gunther Oettinger will face MEPs tomorrow
However, this was blocked after mainstream parties joined forces to vote down a Green Party amendment.
Critics have claimed Mr Selmayr’s appointment, rubber-stamped by commissioners last month, is an example of cronyism, and have been using the hashtag Selmayrgate to vent their frustration.
But Mr Juncker has remained defiant, and has even threatened to quit if his protege is forced out.
Jean-Claude Junker: Martin Selmayr will NOT step down
An spokesman for the European Parliament said: “The EU Commissioner in charge of Budget and Human Resources to face questions from Budgetary Control MEPs on the appointment of Martin Selmayr, on Tuesday."
The conclusions of the public hearing will contribute to a resolution to be voted on by the whole European Parliament on April 19 in Strasbourg.
MEPs will discuss the draft resolution immediately after the hearing, which will build on a series of written questions to which the European Commission has replied.
The procedure used to appoint Mr Selmayr as the Commission’s Secretary-General from March 1 lacked integrity and transparency, several MEPs said in a 12 March plenary debate in Strasbourg.
Selmayr investigation: Today at 3 am the @EU_Commission has sent an 80 page document with its answers to the 130 questions by the European Parliament on #SelmayrGate. Best weekend read ever! ������������ https://t.co/FbMjqxR79J
— Sven Giegold (@sven_giegold) March 25, 2018
Further to this debate, the Parliament’s Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (President and political group leaders) had asked the Budgetary Control Committee to draft and table a resolution, to be put to a vote at a forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg on April 19, together with the final vote on the budgetary discharge to the European Commission.
The European Commission has previously insisted procedure was followed when hiring Mr Selmayr.
European Commission spokesman Mark English said: "The legal and procedural rules applicable to the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General have been fully complied with. The suitability of the candidate is also beyond any doubt.
"The Commission is cooperating fully with the European Parliament and will provide the requested information through the usual process and channels."